Buccio Winery 2009 Chardonnay - Review

Carneros, California

Our Selection for Wine of the Week August 27, 2012

Buccio Winery2009 ChardonnayCarneros, CA

Buccio is a new venture from Location, Elevation & Slope, Inc. (The company is a California negociant.) It created Buccio to offer elegant but affordable wines that are, in quality, a step up from typical American negociant-style offerings. Currently, the winery offers two regionally specific Chardonnays, one from Monterey County and one from Carneros. The 2009 Carneros Chardonnay is made in a classic Californian style, barrel-aged for eight months, undergoing malolactic fermentation. Fruit notes dominate on the nose, primarily melon, lemon and ripe pear with hints of toasted oak. Nicely textured, it is medium full-bodied with flavors of Bartlett pear, apple and citrus acidity with hints of bread dough and a heavy toasted oak note. Hints of minerality and a touch of spice keep the oak from dominating the finish. Try it with roast pork tenderloin with apple chutney, grilled salmon or a salad of chicken with autumn fruits and aged cheese.